Alabama Community Waiver Program: Counties, Enrollment Groups, and Services

What Makes the CWP Different

The Community Waiver Program (CWP) is Alabama's newest developmental disability waiver — and it works differently from the older programs. Where the ID Waiver and Living at Home Waiver primarily serve individuals who already face crises, the CWP is designed to intervene earlier. The goal is to provide preventative supports before a family reaches a breaking point, keeping individuals in their homes and on a path toward integrated employment.

The CWP operates under combined Section 1115 and 1915(c) authority, giving it more flexibility than a standard HCBS waiver. It has 1,550 slots — more than the LAH Waiver's 644 — and it targets specific populations through five distinct enrollment groups.

The significant limitation: it's only available in 11 pilot counties.

Eligible Counties

The CWP currently operates in:

1. Baldwin
2. Elmore
3. Houston
4. Jefferson
5. Limestone
6. Madison
7. Mobile
8. Montgomery
9. Morgan
10. Tuscaloosa
11. Walker

If you live outside these counties, you're not eligible for the CWP regardless of other qualifications. The standard ID Waiver and LAH Waiver remain the options for families statewide.

The Five Enrollment Groups

The CWP doesn't use a single waitlist. Instead, it divides slots across five enrollment groups based on age and living arrangement:

Group 1 — Children ages 3-13 with intellectual disabilities who live with family or other natural supports.

Group 2 — Transition-age youth ages 14-21 with intellectual disabilities who live with family or other natural supports, or who are ages 18-21 and live independently. This is the group most relevant for families navigating the SSI age-18 redetermination and the IEP-to-adult-services handoff.

Group 3 — Working-age or older adults ages 22+ with intellectual disabilities who live with family or other natural supports or who live independently.

Group 4 — Persons age 3+ with intellectual disabilities who are unable to live with family or other natural supports or to live independently.

Group 5 — Working-age or older adults ages 22+ with intellectual disabilities who do not qualify for the level of care offered in Group 3 but need home and community-based services to maintain community living and/or work in the community.

For transition-age families, Group 2 is the entry point. The enrollment age range (14-21) aligns with the IEP transition planning timeline, making the CWP an option to consider alongside the ADMH waiting list for traditional waivers.

Key Services

The CWP emphasizes community integration and employment in ways the older waivers don't:

• Supported employment — Job development, job coaching, and workplace supports for competitive integrated employment
• Housing start-up assistance — Help with initial costs of independent or supported living arrangements
• Financial literacy and benefits counseling — Education on managing income, ABLE accounts, and understanding how earnings affect SSI
• Community habilitation — Skill-building for daily living, social interaction, and community participation
• Personal care and respite — Core supports similar to other waivers
• Assistive technology — Devices and adaptive equipment

The employment focus makes the CWP a natural complement to the ADRS Vocational Rehabilitation Services that transition-age youth access through their schools. If your child is already working with a Pre-Employment Transition Services counselor, the CWP can complement that support after school exit.

How to Apply

The intake process follows the same 310 Board pathway as other ADMH waivers:

1. Call the DDD Call Center at 1-800-361-4491 and specify interest in the Community Waiver Program
2. Your county's 310 Board support coordinator schedules the intake assessment
3. Provide the standard documentation: psychological evaluation with IQ testing, adaptive behavior assessment, developmental history, and Medicaid eligibility
4. The coordinator administers the ICAP assessment
5. The ADMH regional office reviews eligibility and assigns the individual to the appropriate enrollment group

Because the CWP has enrollment groups rather than a single waitlist, availability varies by group. An opening in Group 4 doesn't help a Group 2 applicant. Ask the 310 Board coordinator about current availability in your specific group.

CWP vs. Statewide Waivers

The CWP's geographic limitation is its main drawback. Families in the 11 pilot counties have an additional option that families in the remaining 56 counties don't. But the trade-off is real: the CWP's preventative model and employment focus fill a gap that the ID and LAH Waivers weren't designed to address.

If you're in a pilot county, applying for both the CWP and the statewide waiver waiting list is worth considering. The programs serve different purposes, and getting on the statewide list now provides a backstop if the CWP doesn't meet all of your child's long-term needs.

The Alabama SSI at 18 & Adult Disability Benefits Guide includes a waiver comparison worksheet covering all five Alabama waivers — slot counts, cost caps, service menus, and eligibility requirements side by side.

See more Alabama guides →